Late Goal Secures Series Sweep of Miami

GAME CAPSULE

A late goal by Erik Middendorf propelled Michigan State to a 2-1 victory over Miami on Saturday night at Munn Ice Arena.

For the second straight night, MSU got the game-winner late in the third period to earn the victory and with the two wins, improve to 3-1 on the season.

On Friday, it was transfer Jeremy Davidson with the heroics, and fellow transfer Middendorf took his turn on Saturday when he scored with just 2:12 remaining in the game off assists from Josh Nodler and Griffin Loughran.

Loughran initiated the play when he brought the puck up the left wall and passed it to Nodler in the high slot. Nodler tried to gain control but it got past him and deflected off his stick to a crashing Middendorf, who found a whole lot of space in the upper left corner to deposit his first goal as a Spartan.

Drew DeRidder earned the victory between the pipes with 35 saves, including eight on the major penalty kill in the second period.

The late goals broke 1-1 deadlocks in both contests of the weekend. The Spartans had at least four breakaway chances in the game stopped by Miami goalie Ludvig Persson, who made 22 saves on Saturday. MSU had to kill a five-minute major penalty in the final five minutes of the second period, but came out for the third with fresh legs to score twice to secure the win.

Davidson scored the first goal of the night for MSU in addition to his two goals on Friday. He was set up by Kristoff Papp in the first 90 seconds of the third period to put the tying goal on the board after Miami had scored (Derek Daschke) at 15:08 of the first period.

Michigan State was a perfect 2-2 on the penalty kill, encapsulating seven minutes of shorthanded effort. The Spartans did not have a power play chance in the game, as Miami's only penalty came in the second period on matching minors.

Miami had a 36-24 edge in shots on net, but MSU held a commanding lead in faceoff wins (36-28).

Michigan State hits the road for its next four games. The Spartans play a non-conference series at UMass-Lowell next weekend (Oct. 22-23) before opening Big Ten play at Ohio State Oct. 29-30.

STATISTICS OF NOTE

Jeremy Davidson potted his third goal of the weekend just 90 seconds into the third period to tie the game at 1-1.
Erik Middendorf scored the game-winning goal with 2:12 remaining in the contest.
The Spartans were 2-of-2 on the penalty kill, a total of seven minutes.

SUPPORTING STORYLINES

MSU earned its first series sweep at Munn since 3-0 and 5-4 wins over Wisconsin Dec. 6-7, 2019.
Erik Middendorf's game-winner was his first goal as a Spartan.
Drew DeRidder made eight saves in a major penalty late in the second period, and was aided by three blocked shots by his defensemen. His 35 saves allowed him to pick up his first victory of the season
The MSU-Miami series was the first meeting between the former CCHA conference mates since the 2013 season, the final year of the 'old' conference. The CCHA has come back with a new look for the 2021-22 season, and features teams from both the 'old' CCHA (Bowling Green, Ferris State, Lake Superior State, Northern Michigan), the WCHA (Bemidji State, Michigan Tech, Minnesota-Mankato) as well as Division I newcomer St. Thomas.

GAME SYNOPSIS

FIRST PERIOD: The first great chance for either team came from MSU freshman Tanner Kelly, who got in alone but couldn't lift the puck to beat Persson stick-side. The Spartans killed off a penalty to David Gucciardi at the midpoint of the period, but despite the RedHawks unable to get the goal on the man advantage, they did take their first lead of the series at 15:08, when Matt Barry dished it off from the right circle to Derek Daschke in the high slot, and he beat DeRidder stick side for his first goal of the season. With just over 90 seconds remaining, the Spartans had a 2-n-1 chance denied by a sprawling Persson – he laid out and denied Tanner Kelly on what would have been the tying goal.

SECOND PERIOD: The Spartans had their chances in the second, but spent a lot of time in their defensive zone with both matching minors at the midpoint of the frame and a five-minute major whistled against Cole Krygier with just under five minutes to go. Miami held their ground in the offensive zone, peppering DeRidder with shots – he made eight saves on the major kill, and the defensemen came up with three blocked shots as well.

THIRD PERIOD: The Spartans had the intermission to get a break after the major kill, and it didn't take long for MSU to get on the scoreboard after that – MSU got the equalizer from Jeremy Davidson who took a feed from Papp and put the third goal of the weekend into the back of the net. In the waning minutes of the game, it was MSU's top line that generated the game-winner. Loughran brought the puck into the offensive zone along the left wall and dished it to Nodler in the high slot, but the puck went off his stick and his skate, and deflected right to a crashing Middendorf – who found space in the upper left corner for a sharp-angle shot that found its mark. The RedHawks pulled Persson in favor of an extra skater to try to find an equalizer of their own, but the Spartans did not allow much pressure and held on to the 2-1 victory.

Next Event

Team Stats

Jeremy Davidson

Erik Middendorf

Mitchell Lewandowski

Kristof Papp

Players Mentioned

Jeremy Davidson

Drew DeRidder

David Gucciardi

Tanner Kelly

Cole Krygier

Griffin Loughran

Erik Middendorf

Josh Nodler

Players Mentioned

Jeremy Davidson

Drew DeRidder

David Gucciardi

Tanner Kelly

Cole Krygier

Griffin Loughran

Erik Middendorf

Josh Nodler